Campus Carry Supporters Sound Off At TCU

TCU students listen to Sen. Konni Burton, R-Fort Worth, speak during a pro-campus carry event in Fort Worth on Thursday.

Laura Buckman
/ Texas Tribune

Five stories that have North Texas talking: campus carry in Fort Worth; it’s raining, it’s pouring; Dallas police will increase their presence in Oak Lawn; and more.

Folks who support campus carry talked about the controversial law in Fort Worth. The Texas Tribune reports: “Students and guest speakers at a Thursday evening forum lamented what they saw as misperceptions of firearms as they advocated for Texas Christian University to allow concealed firearms on campus. … ‘Guns are thought of as scary,’ said Lydia Longoria, TCU College Republicans treasurer and a concealed handgun license holder. ‘It’s a tool women can use to protect themselves. I’ve learned what it means to own a gun, have a gun and the respect that comes with having it.’ The event came as TCU is deciding whether to opt out of Senate Bill 11, the campus carry law passed this spring that requires public colleges and universities to allow people with handgun licenses to carry their weapons at school starting Aug. 1.” Read more here.

American Airlines is building its new headquarters in Fort Worth. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports: “The Fort Worth-based carrier said it will demolish the one-time Sabre Holdings headquarters building on the northwest corner of Trinity Boulevard and Highway 360 and construct four buildings on the 97-acre site. American did not disclose the cost of the project but said the new buildings will house about 5,000 employees.”

Texas could see another round of heavy rain after Hurricane Patricia makes landfall in Mexico and moves northeast. Forecasters say parts of Texas could see 5 to 8 inches of rain with isolated pockets of up to 12 inches. Flash flood watches have been posted for the Texas Hill Country and along the Interstate 35 corridor from the Austin-San Antonio area to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. [Associated Press]

Dallas police plan to increase their presence in Oak Lawn following several attacks. The Dallas Morning News reports: “After a series of violent attacks that have left the Oak Lawn community shaken, Dallas City Council member Adam Medrano and Dallas police on Wednesday announced that officers would be increasing patrols in the area. ‘We are here because of the seriousness of the attacks. … I’m very concerned,’ Medrano said at a monthly LGBT task force meeting. Medrano, who represents Oak Lawn, is also chairman of the Mayor Mike Rawlings’ LGBT task force.”

Ack -- the grackles are back! The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports on the grackle attack. “It’s that time of year again in North Texas, when large flocks of grackles cover trees and power lines at intersections and take flight with loud squawks and flapping wings. Fall is the worst time for the birds, which migrate from the North and Midwest, said Mike Keller, the city of Fort Worth’s field operations supervisor for the downtown area.” [Fort Worth Star-Telegram]

Five stories that have North Texas talking: Ahmed Mohamed is leaving Irving – and the U.S.; Oswald’s wedding ring is in Dallas; a Granbury driver says he swerved into a motorcycle because an insect bit him; and more.